Dr. Mayola Rowser, Chair; Interim Director of Graduate StudiesDr. Bonnie Beach, Director of the Master of Science in Education ProgramDr. Karen Bonnell, Interim Director of the Master of Arts in Communication ProgramDr. Charles Conaway, Director of the Master of Arts in EnglishDr. Vaughn DeCoster, Director of the Master of Social Work ProgramDr. Ernest Hall, Director of Master of Business Administration ProgramDr. Matthew Hanka, Director of Master of Public Administration ProgramDr. Melissa Hall, Chair of Graduate NursingDr. Janet Kilbane, Chair; Interim Director of the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy ProgramDr. Thomas McDonald, Interim Director of the Master of Science in Industrial Management ProgramDr. Kevin Valadares, Chair; Director of the Master of Health Administration ProgramDr. Stephen Zehr, Interim Director of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program

Duties and Responsibilities of the Graduate Council »

The Graduate Council

The Graduate Council is the academic, executive, and planning committee of the Graduate Faculty. Its membership consists of the director of each graduate program and an elected representative of the Graduate Faculty in each school. In addition, the registrar, director of Library Services, and the provost are ex officio members. The director of Graduate Studies serves as the chairperson.

A. The Graduate Council

Develops the policies for Graduate standards;

Reviews and approves recommendations regarding new academic courses and programs;

Serves as the legislative and administrative body for graduate programs at the University;

Makes recommendations to the provost and director of Graduate Studies concerning those proposed for membership in the Graduate Faculty;

Serves as the long-range planning committee for graduate studies at the university.

B. Election of Members

In the spring, the deans of the schools with forthcoming vacancies on the Graduate Council will conduct an election to fill the vacancies of representatives. The election to the Graduate Council will be timed to be distinct from the election to the Faculty Senate.

C. Term of Office

Elected Graduate Council members shall serve three-year terms. Terms shall be staggered so that no more than two members will complete their terms of office at one time.

Terms of elected members will begin the first day of the fall semester.

Members may not be elected to succeed themselves.

A member shall be eligible to serve a second full term only after the lapse of one or more years following the last period of service.

A person serving part of a term as a replacement shall be eligible for election to an immediately following term.

If a vacancy on the Graduate Council occurs between regularly scheduled elections, the School will choose a replacement until the next regular election.

The Graduate Council shall be empowered to determine whether a vacancy exists.

D. Meetings

The Graduate Council will meet at least twice each semester, with meeting times dictated by the current workload.